Tool sash

ABSTRACT

A sash adapted to be worn over a shoulder of a wearer and configured for holding tools and equipment. The sash includes a strap delimited by oppositely-disposed first and second ends and by first and second edges that are between the first and second ends. The first and second edges define inner and outer arcuate edge portions, respectively, between which an arcuate chest strap portion is defined and which lies against the wearer&#39;s chest with the inner arcuate edge above the outer arcuate edge when the sash is slung over the wearer&#39;s shoulder. The first and second ends of the strap are adapted to be fastened together to define a back strap portion of the sash that lies against the wearer&#39;s back. Pockets are located on the chest strap portion and extend between the inner and outer arcuate edges in a radial direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/150,112, filed Feb. 5, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to tool belts, sashes or garments for holding and carrying tools. More particularly, this invention relates to a tool sash which can be worn over a shoulder and is capable of accommodating a variety of tools.

Tool belts and garments are generally known and used throughout a variety of manufacturing and construction industries. These belts and garments are characterized by a variety of packets which are sized to be capable of holding various different tools and equipment. The wearer then has easier accessibility to the tools and equipment. However, tool belts often become uncomfortable to the wearer as the weight of the belt tends to cause the belt to slip down of the hips of the wearer. Tool garments, such as a vest, are burdensome to the wearer as they are often awkward to take on and off.

Shoulder-mounted belts for holding equipment are also known, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,726 to O'Hare, which discloses a gear carrier with multiple pockets and receptacles for holding various fishing, shooting and hunting gear. While the numerous pockets provided by O'Hare enhance the versatility of the gear carrier, access to individual pockets can be difficult under certain circumstances, particularly if the wearer is not standing erect.

Accordingly, there is a need for a tool garment which can be easily donned and removed, comfortable to wear, and capable of holding a variety of numerous tools and equipment that remain readily accessible when the garment is worn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sash adapted to be worn over a shoulder of a wearer and configured for holding tools and equipment.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the sash includes a strap delimited by a first end, an oppositely-disposed second end, and first and second edges that are between the first and second ends and spaced apart from each other. The first edge defines an inner arcuate edge portion, the second edge defines an outer arcuate edge portion, and an arcuate chest strap portion is defined between the inner and outer arcuate edges. The arcuate chest strap portion is configured to lie against the chest of a wearer with the inner arcuate strap above the outer arcuate edges when the sash is slung over a shoulder of the wearer. The first and second ends of the strap are adapted to be fastened together, such that at least the first end of the strap defines a back strap portion of the sash that lies against the back of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer. The sash further includes pockets that are located on the arcuate chest strap portion and extend between the inner and outer arcuate edges of the arcuate chest strap portion in a radial direction relative to a curvature of the arcuate chest strap portion. The pockets have openings closer to the inner arcuate edge than the outer arcuate edge through which tools can be inserted into the pockets by movement of the tools in a downward and crosswise diagonal direction across the chest of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.

Because the sash is adapted to be worn over a shoulder, the sash can be easily donned, for example, by simply lifting the upper extent of the sash over the head and onto the wearer's shoulder. The curvature of the sash and the radial orientation of the radial pockets located on the arcuate chest strap portion lying against the chest of the wearer promotes the accessibility and removability of tools within the radial pockets, even when the wearer is not standing erect.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a tool sash in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool sash of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the sash of FIG. 1 unfastened and laid out flat to illustrate a preferred construction for the sash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A tool sash 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is represented in FIGS. 1 and 3. The tool sash 10 has a continuous loop configuration that enables the sash 10 to be slung over one shoulder of the wearer and hang to either side of the wearer, for example, to the side opposite the shoulder supporting the sash 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The sash 10 is depicted and will be described as specially configured for a right-handed wearer, meaning that tools are intended to be stowed on the sash 10 and retrieved with the wearer's right hand. As such, a sash dedicated to a left-handed wearer would be the mirror image of the sash 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, though it is foreseeable that a left-handed person would also find the sash 10 shown in the figures to be convenient to use.

The tool sash 10 can be made from a variety of materials, including leather, canvas or other woven material, etc. The sash 10 has a strap 12 with first and second ends 14 and 16 that can be joined together, for example, with hook-and-loop fasteners 17 or other suitable temporary fasteners to form the continuous loop configuration of the sash 10. The strap 12 is delimited between its ends 14 and 16 by first and second edges 18 and 20 that are spaced apart from each other. At least portions of the first and second edges 18 define, respectively, an inner arcuate edge portion 22 and an outer arcuate edge portion 24 that are located at the front of the wearer when the sash 10 is worn as shown in FIG. 1. An arcuate chest strap portion 26 is defined between the inner and outer arcuate edges 22 and 24, and therefore lies against the wearer's chest when the sash 10 is slung over the wearer's shoulder, as shown in FIG. 1. As evident from FIGS. 1 through 3, the chest strap portion 26 is located adjacent the second end 16 of the strap 12. The portion of the strap 12 adjacent its first end 14 defines a back strap portion 28 of the sash 10 that lies against the wearer's back. A shoulder strap portion 30 is located between the chest and back strap portions 26 and 28, and rests upon the wearer's shoulder when the sash 10 is worn as shown in FIG. 1. A strap 86 is provided on the back strap portion 28 by which the length of the back strap portion 28 can be adjusted to accommodate wearer's of different stature. A loop or handle 76 is located adjacent the first end 14 of the strap 12 by which the sash 10 can be carried or hung.

Multiple pockets 32 are located on the arcuate chest strap portion 26 and arranged so as to extend between the inner and outer arcuate edges 22 and 24 in a substantially radial direction relative to the curvature of the arcuate chest strap portion 26. In FIGS. 1 through 3, the pockets 32 are shown arranged in two continuous arcuate arrays, one on top of the other, with adjacent pockets 32 being side-by-side and angling downward and crosswise in a diagonal direction across the wearer's chest when the sash 10 is worn as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The pockets 32 have openings 34 adjacent the inner arcuate edge 22 through which tools (36 in FIG. 3) can be inserted into the pockets 32 by movement in the above-noted diagonal direction. The openings 34 of the pockets 32 can be lined with or contain an elastic material and the interiors of the pockets 32 can be lined with an elastomeric or other type of material capable of aiding in the retention of tools 36 (FIG. 1) placed in the pockets 32.

The sash 10 is further shown as being equipped with additional features for holding tools, including pockets 38 at the upped end of the chest strap portion 26 near the shoulder strap portion 30, and pockets 40 and 41 hanging from or disposed on a triangular panel 42 located beneath the chest strap portion 26. As evident from the Figures, the pockets 41 extend away from the outer arcuate edge 24 of the chest strap portion 26 in a radial direction relative to the curvature of the chest strap portion 26, and have openings adjacent the outer arcuate edge 24 through which tools can be inserted by movement of the tools in a downward and crosswise diagonal direction across the chest of the wearer.

Still other possible devices for securing tools can be provided on the sash 10, including a clip 70 for securing a tape measure, a magnetic patch 72 for magnetically holding screws, etc., a hammer loop 74, a chain 78 to hold rolls of tape, a holster/pouch 80 for securing a drill or other power tool, clips or rings 82 for securing keys, etc., and various other hooks, loops and clips capable of securing various tools. Additionally, the sash 10 is shown as being equipped with a light source 60 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that is attached to the shoulder strap portion 30 so as to be capable of projecting a light beam in the forward of the wearer. The light source 60 can be secured within a pocket or strap 62, and batteries (not shown) for the light source 60 can be contained in a second pocket/strap 64 immediately behind the light source 60. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the back strap portion 28 is free of any means for attaching tools to the sash 10, which allows the wearer to lie comfortably on his or her back while wearing the sash 10.

The tool sash 10 is represented in FIGS. 1 through 3 as comprising two separate features for securing the sash 10 around the waist of the wearer when the sash 10 is slung over the wearer's shoulder. The first is a waist band 44 that comprises a first portion 46 attached adjacent the first end 14 of the strap 12 and a second portion 48 attached to the above-noted triangular panel 42. The waist band 44 and its portions 46 and 48 are more readily seen in FIG. 3, which shows the ends 14 and 16 of the strap 12 unfastened from each other, such that the entire sash 10 is laid out flat. As a result of the band portion 48 being attached to the triangular panel 42, the waist band 44 effectively extends from the outer arcuate edge 24 near the second end 16 of the strap 12 to the first end 14 of the strap 12. Hook-and-loop fasteners 56 are represented as being provided on the waist band 44 for attaching its band portions 46 and 48 together, though other temporary fastening devices could be used in its place.

The second securement feature is shown as a waist belt 50 having a first portion 52 attached to the triangular panel 42 near the second portion 48 of the waist band 44, and a second portion 54 attached at the second end 16 of the strap 12. Buckles 58 are represented as being located at the ends of the belt portions 52 and 54 for fastening the belt portions 52 and 54 together, though other temporary fastening devices could be used. Since the belt portion 52 is attached to the triangular panel 42, the waist belt 50 also effectively extends from the outer arcuate edge 24 near the second end 16 of the strap 12. However, because the belt portion 54 of the waist belt 50 is attached to the second end 16 of the strap 12, instead of the first end 14 of the strap 12 as in the case of the band portion 46 of the waist band 44, the waist band 44 and waist belt 50 differ in the manner in which they secure the sash 10 to the wearer's waist.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the tool sash 10 is configured so that tools 36 stowed in its radial pockets 32 can be easily accessed, stowed and retrieved by the wearer, and in particular the wearer's right hand in the embodiment shown in the Figures. This accessibility is attributable to the radial or diagonal orientation of the pockets 32 located across the wearer's chest, which provides for a more natural motion of the wearer's arm when stowing and retrieving tools in the pockets 32, regardless of whether the wearer is standing erect, leaning, lying down, etc. Because of this versatility, the sash 10 is shown as being further equipped with a flap 66 that extends from the inner arcuate edge 22 of the chest strap portion 26, as seen in FIG. 3. The flap 66 is sized and adapted for folding over substantially the entire chest strap portion 26, and then attached with snaps 68 or other suitable temporary fasteners in order to secure the tools 36 located within the pockets 32. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the flap 66 is stowed behind the chest strap portion 26 to allow unimpeded access to tools 36 in the pockets 32.

While the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the tool belt could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiment shown in the Figures, and appropriate materials could be substituted for those noted. In addition, the location and sizing of the various packets could differ to accommodate the needs of a particular wearer. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims. 

1. A tool sash configured for holding tools when the sash is slung over a shoulder of a wearer, the tool sash comprising: a strap delimited by a first end, an oppositely-disposed second end, and first and second edges between the first and second ends and spaced apart from each other, the first edge defining an inner arcuate edge portion and the second edge defining an outer arcuate edge portion, an arcuate chest strap portion being defined between the inner and outer arcuate edges, the arcuate chest strap portion being configured to lie against the chest of a wearer with the inner arcuate edge above the outer arcuate edge when the sash is slung over a shoulder of the wearer, the first and second ends of the strap being adapted to be fastened together, at least the first end of the strap defining a back strap portion of the sash that lies against the back of the wearer when the first and second ends are fastened together and the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer; and pockets located on the arcuate chest strap portion and extending between the inner and outer arcuate edges of the arcuate chest strap portion in a radial direction relative to a curvature of the arcuate chest strap portion, the pockets having openings closer to the inner arcuate edge than the outer arcuate edge through which tools can be inserted into the pockets by movement of the tools in a downward and crosswise diagonal direction across the chest of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 2. The tool sash according to claim 1, further comprising means for securing the tool sash around the waist of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 3. The tool sash according to claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a waist band having first and second portions extending from the second edge of the strap, the first portion being attached adjacent the first end of the strap and the second portion being attached adjacent the second end of the strap.
 4. The tool sash according to claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a waist belt having a first portion extending from the outer arcuate edge of the strap and a second portion attached to the second end of the strap.
 5. The tool sash according to claim 4, wherein the securing means further comprises a waist band having first and second portions extending from the second edge of the strap, the first portion being attached adjacent the first end of the strap and the second portion being attached adjacent the second end of the strap.
 6. The tool sash according to claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap portion between the arcuate chest strap portion and the back strap portion when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 7. The tool sash according to claim 6, further comprising a light source attached to the shoulder strap portion and oriented for projecting a light beam in a forward direction of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 8. The tool sash according to claim 1, further comprising a flap extending from the inner arcuate edge of the arcuate chest strap portion, the flap being sized and adapted to fold over the arcuate chest strap portion and secure tools located within the pockets.
 9. The tool sash according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pockets are arranged as a continuous arcuate array in which the plurality of the pockets are positioned side-by-side to each other.
 10. The tool sash according to claim 1, wherein the back strap portion is free of any means for attaching tools thereto.
 11. The tool sash according to claim 1, further comprising a triangular-shaped panel extending from the outer arcuate edge of the arcuate chest strap portion.
 12. The tool sash according to claim 11, further comprising at least one receptacle attached to a lower edge of the triangular-shaped panel so as to hang from the sash when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 13. The tool sash according to claim 11, further comprising additional pockets disposed on the triangular-shaped panel, the additional pockets extending away from the outer arcuate edge of the arcuate chest strap portion in a radial direction relative to the curvature of the arcuate chest strap portion, the additional pockets having openings adjacent the outer arcuate edge through which tools can be inserted into the additional pockets by movement of the tools in a downward and crosswise diagonal direction across the chest of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 14. The tool sash according to claim 11, further comprising means for securing the tool sash around the waist of the wearer when the sash is slung over the shoulder of the wearer.
 15. The tool sash according to claim 14, wherein the securing means comprises a waist band having a first portion extending from the outer arcuate edge adjacent the first end of the strap and a second portion attached to the triangular-shaped panel.
 16. The tool sash according to claim 14, wherein the securing means comprises a waist belt having a first portion attached to the triangular-shaped panel and a second portion attached to the second end of the strap.
 17. The tool sash according to claim 16, wherein the securing means further comprises a waist band having first and second portions extending from the second edge of the strap, the first portion being attached adjacent the first end of the strap and the second portion being attached adjacent the second end of the strap.
 18. The tool sash according to claim 1, further comprising a holster secured to the first end of the strap.
 19. The tool sash according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the length of the strap.
 20. The tool sash according to claim 19, wherein the adjusting means comprises an adjustable strap disposed on the back strap portion of the strap. 